Former Cardinal Defrocked by the Vatican Over Sexual Abuse

A former cardinal has been defrocked by the Vatican and found guilty of sexual abuse.

Theodore McCarrick was removed from public ministry last year amid serious sexual abuse allegations, including one from a then-16-year-old altar boy, and now he’s been officially expelled from the priesthood. Per The New York Times:

Pope Francis has expelled Theodore E. McCarrick, a former cardinal and archbishop of Washington, from the priesthood, after an expedited canonical process found him guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over decades, the Vatican said on Saturday.

“The Holy Father has recognized the definitive nature of this decision made in accord with law” — making it final — the Vatican said of the sentence handed down by its doctrinal watchdog.